The Speaker Series features a game-day seminar session, with each session offering a unique professional development opportunity to learn from high profile junior coaches - as well as a chance to catch the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in action.

The Seminar will take place at the Casman Centre in Fort McMurray. There are only 30 seats available for the seminar, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is $40 (plus GST) per coach, and includes the following ($200 value):

RED DEER - Hockey Canada, in partnership with Hockey Alberta, is pleased to announce the registration for the 2017 Spring Development Program. This program is available for Initiation through to Midget-aged hockey players.

This ten week program will run in Calgary, at the Winsport complex, and at Great Plains Arena, from April 3rd until June 11th (dates subject to change).

This Spring Development Program is a multisport training and hockey skill development program. Each on-ice session is paired with an off-ice athletic development session. Multisport training includes: basketball, lacrosse, floorball, soccer, football, physical literacy, and more.

*Please note - there are fewer sessions for initiation age group players.

All on-ice skill sessions are individual skill based. Efforts will be made to group players of similar skill sets into the same sessions to promote optimal player growth and foster teaching opportunities. Goaltender specific instruction/mentorship is included in every session.

For questions and more information, or if you are interested in registering a large group or team for this program, please contact Ross Maclean at Hockey Canada (403-777-3615).

MEDICINE HAT - Hockey Alberta is proud to partner with the Western Hockey League to present another installment of the WHL Game Day Speaker Series with the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday, February 15.

This seminar is open to all local minor hockey coaches registered with Hockey Alberta. The seminar will allow for coaches to attend a Medicine Hat Tigers home game, where participants will get a behind-the-scenes experience to talk and learn from WHL coaches. With both practical and theoretical learning experiences, this is a great educational opportunity for coaches.

The seminar takes place at the home of the Tigers, the Canalta Centre, and feature a pre-game presentation from Hockey Alberta, a visit from Victoria Royals’ Head Coach, Dave Lowry, a ticket to watch the Tigers game, and a Q&A session after the game with members of the Medicine Hat Tigers coaching staff.

The seminar has a maximum capacity of 30 participants, and registration is on a first come, first serve basis.

Coach Bios

Shaun Clouston

Shaun is in his 14th season with the Medicine Hat Tigers. He has been the Head Coach for seven seasons, and the General Manager for five seasons.

He has also been the Assistant Coach for Team Canada’s U18 squad at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament, and was the Head Coach for Team Canada at the U18 World Championships.

Dave Lowry

Dave has been the Head Coach of the Victoria Royals for the past 5 seasons. Last season, Dave won the DuncMcCallum Memorial Trophy as the WHL Coach of the Year. He was also the Head Coach of Team Canada at the 2016 World Junior Championships and was an assistant at the 2015 World Junior Championships (winning gold).

Prior to his coaching career Dave played in 1084 NHL games with Vancouver, St. Louis, Florida, San Jose and Calgary.

RED DEER/STRATHMORE - The inaugural Alberta Female Hockey League All-Star celebrations were a huge success, with the Midget Elite South and Bantam Elite North teams coming out on top in their respective games.

RED DEER - Registration is now open for 2004-born male athletes to take part in regional selection camps for the 2017 Peewee Prospects Cup. Hockey Alberta is also pleased to announce the staff for each of the eight teams competing in the Peewee Prospects Cup.

The 2017 Peewee Prospect Cup runs May 10-14, 2017 in Lethbridge.

All four regional camps will take place April 6-9, 2017 at the following locations (dates and locations subject to change):

Space at each Regional Camp is limited, and registration is on a first come, first served basis. The deadline to register for a Regional Camp is Friday, March 17.

*Each camp has limited space for goaltenders.*

Hockey Alberta is pleased to announce the staff for each team competing in the 2017 Peewee Prospects Cup. A Director of Operations, Coach Mentor, Head Coach, and two Assistant Coaches were selected for each of the eight regional teams.

About the Peewee Prospects Cup

The Hockey Alberta Peewee Prospects Cup program is the start of the Hockey Alberta Development program and will be held in off years of the Alberta Winter Games.

The Peewee Prospects Cup provides second-year peewee athletes, coaches, trainers and administrators an opportunity to discover the qualities of competitive hockey in a well-organized regional camp and select team competition. Athletes eligible for the Hockey Alberta Peewee Prospects Cup are male athletes that were born in 2004.

The Peewee Prospects Cup begins with four regional camps designed to allow athletes, coaches and trainers to show their skills and receive top-level instruction and evaluation. The top 40 athletes from each regional camp (two teams from each camp), six coaches, two coach mentors and two directors of operations will be selected to participate in the Hockey Alberta Peewee Prospects Cup competition.

RED DEER - NHL Central Scouting has released its midterm rankings for the 2017 NHL draft, with 24 Albertans on the list.

CaleMakar (Brooks Bandits, AJHL) is the highest-ranked Albertan, coming it at number 10. Jaret-Anderson Dolan (Spokane Chiefs, WHL) and Ian Mitchell (Spruce Grove Saints, AJHL) also cracked the top 50, sitting at number 40 and 45, respectively.

A total of 19 Albertans made NHL Central Scouting’s list of top-ranked North American skaters, while three netminders are among the top 31 North American goaltenders, with Ian Scott (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL) leading the way as the second highest-ranked goaltender.

The full list of Albertans appearing in the NHL Central Scouting midterm rankings can be found below:

North American Skaters

Midterm Rank

Player

Position

Last Amateur Club

League

10

CaleMakar

Defenceman

Brooks Bandits

AJHL

40

Jaret Anderson-Dolan

Center

Spokane Chiefs

WHL

45

Ian Mitchell

Defenceman

Spruce Grove Saints

AJHL

58

Kyle Olson

Right Wing

Tri-City Americans

WHL

63

Mason Shaw

Center

Medicine Hat Tigers

WHL

70

Lane Zablocki

Right Wing

Red Deer Rebels

WHL

87

Ryan Peckford

Left Wing

Victoria Royals

WHL

110

Dylan Plouffe

Defenceman

Vancouver Giants

WHL

120

BraydenGorda

Defenceman

Edmonton Oil Kings

WHL

129

Kale Howarth

Left Wing

Trail Smoke Eaters

BCHL

130

Brett Leason

Center

Tri-City Americans

WHL

134

Matthew Wedman

Center

Seattle Thunderbirds

WHL

138

Tyler Steenbergen

Center

Swift Current Broncos

WHL

141

Ethan Mcindoe

Left Wing

Spokane Chiefs

WHL

152

Zackary Hayes

Defenceman

Prince Albert Raiders

WHL

163

Josh Patterson

Center

Saskatoon Blades

WHL

175

Brayden Burke

Left Wing

Moose Jaw Warriors

WHL

177

Ryan Hughes

Center

Portland Winterhawks

WHL

212

BrinsonPasichnuk

Defenceman

Arizona State

ACHA

213

Jarrod Gourley

Defenceman

Spruce Grove Saints

AJHL

North American Goalies

Midterm Rank

Player

Position

Last Amateur Club

League

2

Ian Scott

Goalie

Prince Albert Raiders

WHL

9

Stuart Skinner

Goalie

Lethbridge Hurricanes

WHL

24

Matthew Murray

Goalie

Fargo

USHL

31

Dawson Weatherill

Goalie

Spokane Chiefs

WHL

Hockey Alberta is proud to unveil a new section at hockeyalberta.ca. Home Ice Feature stories will focus on interesting stories about the individuals and groups who make a difference within the hockey community in Alberta. If you have a suggestion for a Home Ice Feature story, email info@hockeyalberta.ca.

The Alberta Cup is the premier event in the province that helps identify the top bantam-aged players in Alberta. In addition to player evaluations, the competition is also an opportunity for administrators, coaches, athletic trainers and officials to be evaluated for future positions within the Team Alberta Program.

The event has a positive economic impact on the host community, providing a great opportunity to generate revenue for local organizations while enhancing the profile of the host community.

The event was held Saturday, January 7 at Bo’s Bar and Grill in Red Deer, with Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames fans gathering for a night of hockey, stories, and a chance to win tickets to see the Battle of Alberta in Edmonton on January 14, and in Calgary on January 21.

The night was hosted by Hockey Alberta Foundation Board Member and Afternoon Host on Sportsnet 960 The Fan, Rob Kerr. Special guests Curtis Glencross and Mike Moller were also in attendance, and treated the crowd to a story-telling hot stove, swapping their favourite Battle of Alberta stories.

From left: Mike Moller, Rob Kerr and Curtis Glencross

“We are very humbled by the support the Hockey Alberta Foundation received at the Battle of Alberta fundraiser, both from those in attendance, and all of the sponsors who stepped up for this event,” said Tim Leer, Executive Director of the Hockey Alberta Foundation. “The Piper Creek Optimist Club put on an excellent event in support of Every Kid Every Community, and we are truly thankful to be chosen as the beneficiary.”

“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the success of this event” said Kevin Walsh, President of the Piper Creek Optimist Club. “We’re very proud to support the Hockey Alberta Foundation and the Every Kid Every Community Program, knowing this money will go towards growing the game of hockey in Central Alberta, and we look forward to continuing this partnership in the future.”

Rayna Becker came away with the grand prize of four tickets to see the Oilers and Flames play on January 14, with a tour of Rogers Place (both donated by the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation), with a limo ride to the game from Red Deer and back, while Sam Dolan won the other grand prize of four tickets to see the Flames and Oilers play on January 21, with dinner on the club level of the ScotiabankSaddledome (both donated by the Calgary Flames Foundation), and a limo ride to the game from Red Deer and back.

RED DEER - Red Deer and Strathmore are set host the inaugural Alberta Female Hockey League (AFHL) Midget and Bantam Elite All Star Games on January 14.

To promote the league and female hockey across the province, the events will be hosted in two separate locations; the Midget Elite All-Star game will be held in Red Deer at the Penhold Multiplex at 1:30 p.m., while the Bantam Elite All-Star game will be hosted in Strathmore at the Strathmore Family Centre at 1:45 p.m.

In addition to the All Star games, the host Associations will be offering development clinics for female athletes within their communities.

AFHL Coaches nominated three players (two forwards and one defense) that best represent the values of their team to represent their programs in the inaugural AFHL All Star Game. Goaltenders were selected based on statistical ranking from the first half of the season (December 23 cut off).

The coaches were chosen to represent the North and the South from the first and second placed teams within each division at the Winter Break.

RED DEER - Hockey Alberta’s Coach of the Month for December is Kelsey Leifson, head coach of the Calgary Bantam Elite Fire Red. Kelsey had an overwhelming amount of support for this award.

Kelsey comes from a small town in Saskatchewan and recalls her favorite memories coming from the rink after school. Playing hockey from the age of six all the way until her last year of University, Kelsey’s passion for the game has since shifted into the coaching side of the sport. When Kelsey moved to Calgary, she started working with the MRU Cougars hockey team from 2014-2016, and this year took over the head coaching role for the AFHL’s Calgary Bantam Elite Fire Red team.

Kelsey’s coaching philosophy comes from her experience with hockey. “The life experiences and friendships I have gained through the game are impossible to replace and I believe in providing the players I coach with the same opportunities," she said. "I want my players to understand the importance of respect, accountability, and individuality as ultimately it is each individuals strength who bring success to the team together.”

Many of Kelsey’s players and parents from the team had wonderful things to say about their coach.

“I think my coach deserves this award because she stepped up for our team when we were in need. She’s not only there to make us better hockey players, but also better people,” said a player of Kelsey’s.

“Kelsey is an excellent role model for Female hockey players because she gets what it mean to be a female hockey player and she takes interest in every individual player," said another player of Kelsey’s. "Coach Kelsey encourages us to be confident in ourselves so we can work together on the ice.”

“She (Kelsey) has brought a positive infectious attitude to the team that the players are feeding off of every day. She has shown a passion for developing the total athlete both on and off the ice and has created an environment where every athlete is free to be the best they can be,” said a team parent.

“I truly admire her (Kelsey) and hope to grow to be like her one day she is, confident, strong, athletic, beautiful, and so smart. I’ve very glad that my coach has recreated an environment that I am proud to be a part of, and I’m so happy to have her as a coach,” said a third player, who also nominated Kelsey for the award.

The Speaker Series runs on Friday, February 10, and features a game-day seminar session, offering a unique professional development opportunity to learn from high profile junior coaches - as well as a chance to catch the Grande Prairie Storm in action.

The Seminar will take place at Revolution Place in Grande Prairie. There are only 20 seats available for the seminar, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is $40 (plus GST) per coach, and includes the following ($200 value):

The event runs on January 7 at Bo’s Bar and Grill in Red Deer, in conjunction with the Edmonton Oilers (5 p.m.) and Calgary Flames (8 p.m.) on Hockey Night in Canada. Special guest Rob Kerr from the Fan 960 will be the night’s Master of Ceremonies.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with hourly prize draws, an early-bird draw at 6 p.m., and the grand prize draws at 9:30 p.m. Two grand prizes are available to be won:

Four club seats to the January 14 Edmonton Oilers game against the Calgary Flames at Rogers Place, a “backstage” arena tour of Rogers Place (both donated by the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation), and a limo ride from Red Deer to Edmonton, and back.

Four club seats to the January 21 Calgary Flames game against the Edmonton Oilers at the ScotiabankSaddledome, dinner on the Club level of the Saddledome before the game, (both donated by the Calgary Flames Foundation), and a limo ride from Red Deer to Calgary, and back.

Tickets are $25 each, which includes snacks (courtesy of Bo’s), and entry into hourly draws. the early bird draw and both grand prize draws.

A WestJet raffle prize (two tickets for anywhere WestJet flies), a 50/50 draw, and silent auction items will also be available throughout the night. As the organizers of the event, the Piper Creek Optimist Club has generously allocated 100% of the proceeds to the Every Kid Every Community program, which will go specifically to help Central Alberta kids into the game of hockey.

Only 375 tickets are available, and are sold on a first come, first served basis. To purchase tickets, or for more information, please email pcobattleofalberta@gmail.com.